Sports PickMoney Line

Chi. Cubs @ Cincinnati | 04/21 | 7:10 PM CST

04/21 7:10 PM

CHI. CUBS (-110)

CUBS RL-1.5

At this point I think it will do the Cubs well to get out of Chicago. I
think all of the hype for this season and all of the residual celebration from
last year has clearly impacted this group. They are off to a sloppy start,
going 6-7 as of Tuesday afternoon and opening just 2-5 at home. I think a trip
to Cincinnati to face a division rival - in a game where there will likely be
as many Cubs fans as Reds fans in the stadium - is just what they need. Chicago
is an outstanding 84-41 in their last 125 divisional games. And last year the
Cubs dominated the Reds, going 15-4 in the head-to-head matchup. The Cubs are
28-10 in their last 38 against Cincinnati. Jake Arrieta is on the mound for
Chicago in this one and he is one of the best in the business. The long ball
has victimized him early this season, giving up three home runs, but he has 21
strikeouts in just 18 innings and exactly one year ago to the date he threw a
complete game shutout in Cincinnati against the Reds. Cincinnati's rotation is
in absolute shambles right now and they don't even know who they are going to
be able to start in this weekend series. That should set up well for a Cubs
lineup that is off to a pretty ugly start. I think the Cubs break out the bats
and bust them over Cincinnati's head here.